Raincoat with a waterproof zipper unit

ABSTRACT

A raincoat includes: a raincoat main body including a first forepart and a second forepart spaced apart from the first forepart, the first and second foreparts being made from a first waterproof polymeric material that is heat-meltable or high-frequency-weldable; and a zipper unit including two zipper halves, each of which has a fabric tape, a plurality of chain teeth secured to the fabric tape, a hot-melt adhesive bonded to the fabric tape, and a bonding tape bonded to the fabric tape. The bonding tape is made from a second waterproof polymeric material that is heat-meltable or high-frequency-weldable. The bonding tape of each of the zipper halves and a corresponding one of the first and second foreparts are interfused together through hot melt or high-frequency welding techniques.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Patent Application No. 102223914, filed on Dec. 18, 2013.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a raincoat having a waterproof zipper unit, more particularly to a raincoat having a waterproof unit with a bonding tape interfused with a raincoat main body through hot melt or high-frequency welding techniques.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional raincoat includes a raincoat main body having two foreparts, and a zipper used to link the foreparts. The zipper includes two zipper halves, each of which has a fabric tape. Generally, fixing of the fabric tape of the zipper to the raincoat main body is conducted using sewing techniques. However, the sewing techniques may result in formation of tiny holes extending through the fabric tape and the raincoat main body. As a consequence, rainwater may penetrate through these holes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a raincoat that can overcome the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art.

According to the present invention, there is provided a raincoat that comprises: a raincoat main body including a first forepart and a second forepart spaced apart from the first forepart, the first and second foreparts being made from a first waterproof polymeric material that is heat-meltable or high-frequency-weldable; and a zipper unit including two zipper halves, each of which has a fabric tape, a plurality of chain teeth secured to the fabric tape, a hot-melt adhesive bonded to the fabric tape, and a bonding tape bonded to the fabric tape through said hot-melt adhesive. The bonding tape is made from a second waterproof polymeric material that is heat-meltable or high-frequency-weldable. The bonding tape of each of the zipper halves and a corresponding one of the first and second foreparts are interfused together through hot melt or high-frequency welding techniques.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a raincoat according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the preferred embodiment illustrating a state where zipper halves of a zipper unit are secured together;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 4 illustrates consecutive steps of hot melting or high-frequency welding a bonding tape to a forepart of the raincoat of the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate the preferred embodiment of a raincoat according to the present invention.

The raincoat includes a raincoat main body 3 and a zipper unit 7, and is formed with an opening 310. The raincoat main body 3 includes a back part 31, a first forepart 32, a second forepart 33 spaced apart from the first forepart 32, a fly 34, a hood 35, and first and second sleeves 36, 37. The first and second foreparts 32, 33 are respectively connected to two sides of the back part 31. The first and second foreparts 32, 33 and the back part 31 are made from a first waterproof polymeric material that is heat-meltable or high-frequency-weldable. The opening 310 is formed in the back part 31. The first and second sleeves 36, 37 are respectively connected to the first and second foreparts 32, 33.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the zipper unit 7 includes two zipper halves 71, each of which has a fabric tape 711, a plurality of chain teeth 712 secured to the fabric tape 711, a hot-melt adhesive 713 bonded to the fabric tape 711, and a bonding tape 714 bonded to the fabric tape 711. The bonding tape 714 is made from a second waterproof polymeric material that is heat-meltable or high-frequency-weldable. The bonding tape 714 of each of the zipper halves 71 and a corresponding one of the first and second foreparts 32, 33 are interfused together through hot melt or high-frequency welding techniques to form a welding area 700.

FIG. 4 illustrates consecutive steps of fixing one of the zipper halves 71 to the first forepart 32. The bonding tape 714 is bonded to a surface of the fabric tape 711 through the hot melt adhesive 713, followed by attaching and bonding the bonding tape 714 to the first forepart 32 using high-frequency welding technique. During the welding process, the bonding piece 714 and the first forepart 32 are welded together, and the hot-melt adhesive 713 is hot-melted and penetrates through the fabric tape 711 and the bonding tape 714.

Since the first and second waterproof polymeric materials are both heat-meltable or both high-frequency-weldable, a contact area between the bonding tape 714 and the first forepart 32 is free of holes, thereby eliminating the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art. Furthermore, the bonding strength between the bonding tape 714 and the first forepart 32 is considerably enhanced.

Preferably, each of the first and second waterproof polymeric materials is selected from polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), nylon, ethylenevinyl acetate (EVA), polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA) and combinations thereof. More preferably, each of the first and second waterproof polymeric materials is selected from ethylene vinyl acetate, polyethylene vinyl acetate and the combination thereof. Most preferably, the first and second waterproof polymeric materials are the same.

The raincoat main body 3 further includes a ventilation mesh 4 that covers the opening 310 and that is fixed to the raincoat main body 3, and a flap sheet 5 that has an edge 51 fixed to the raincoat main body 3 so as to be swingable relative to the raincoat main body 3 for covering and uncovering the ventilation mesh 4. The flap sheet 5 cooperates with the ventilation mesh 4 to define therebetween a ventilation gap 50 for passage of sweat vapor therethrough when the flap sheet 5 covers the ventilation mesh 4.

The position of the opening 310 is not limited to the disclosure of this embodiment. The opening 310 maybe formed in one of the first and second foreparts 32, 33, and the positions of the ventilation mesh 4 and the flap sheet 5 would be changed accordingly.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the raincoat further includes at least one bonding unit 6. The bonding unit 6 includes a first fixing element 61 fixed to a top end of the first forepart 32, an extension band 62 fixed to the second forepart 33 and movable to cross the zipper unit 7, and a second fixing element 63 fixed at an end portion of the extension band 62 and engageable with the first fixing element 61.

In this embodiment, the first and second fixing elements 61, 63 are male and female buttons, respectively.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A raincoat comprising: a raincoat main body including a first forepart and a second forepart spaced apart from said first forepart, said first and second foreparts being made from a first waterproof polymeric material that is heat-meltable or high-frequency-weldable; and a zipper unit including two zipper halves, each of which has a fabric tape, a plurality of chain teeth secured to said fabric tape, a hot-melt adhesive bonded to said fabric tape, and a bonding tape bonded to said fabric tape through said hot-melt adhesive, said bonding tape being made from a second waterproof polymeric material that is heat-meltable or high-frequency-weldable; wherein said bonding tape of each of said zipper halves and a corresponding one of said first and second foreparts are interfused together through hot melt or high-frequency welding techniques.
 2. The raincoat as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second waterproof polymeric materials is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, nylon, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyethylene vinyl acetate and combinations thereof.
 3. The raincoat as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said first and second waterproof polymeric materials is selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate, polyethylene vinyl acetate and the combination thereof.
 4. The raincoat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second waterproof polymeric materials are the same.
 5. The raincoat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said raincoat main body is formed with an opening, and further includes a ventilation mesh that covers said opening and that is fixed to said raincoat main body, and a flap sheet that has an edge fixed to said raincoat main body so as to be swingable relative to said raincoat main body for covering and uncovering said ventilation mesh, said flap sheet cooperating with said ventilation mesh to define a ventilation gap therebetween when said flap sheet covers said ventilation mesh.
 6. The raincoat as claimed in claim 5, wherein said raincoat main body further includes a back part, said first and second foreparts being respectively connected to two sides of said back part, said opening being formed in said back part, said ventilation mesh and said flap sheet being fixed to said back part. 